Sabi Sands Luxury
Safaris made for you

Africa's premier private game reserve
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The big five

and many other fascinating creatures to discover

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Safari

on morning and evening and game drives

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Spot Elephants

on the banks for Sabi and Sand river

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Lion and leopard

roam across the reserve

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Luxury Lodges

with gourmet dining, spas and incredible service

One of the world's premier safari destinations

Widely regarded as Africa’s premier game reserve, Sabi Sands is world renowned for the abundance of game (particularly leopard), and is the best place to see all of the ‘Big Five’ in South Africa.

This is one of the best places in Africa to get up close and personal with Africa’s most famous predators. Sabi Sand’s private reserve of over 60,000 hectares shares an unfenced boundary with the enormous Kruger Park, allowing an authentic game-rich experience where animals roam free.

The landscape is Savanna Bushveld, the iconic safari landscape of scrub, small trees and grass land, punctuated by the Sabi and Sand Rivers. The oldest of all the private reserves, the game here has become very accustomed to the vehicles, allowing for fantastic, up close viewings. One can even track leopard or wild-dog as they hunt, a thrilling and unique experience.

Highlights

Take morning and evening game drives on search for Africa’s big five; elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos

Benefit from expert guides and trackers who know the reserve intimately as you learn about the wildlife in the region

Stay in luxury lodges and enjoy delicious cuisines, sumptuous spas and impeccable service during your stay 

Head out on foot on walking safaris learning about smaller flower and fauna and hoping to track larger and more unusual wildlife such as wild dogs

I’ve been lucky enough to go on safari in the Sabi Sands many times. It’s a truly magical experience for any wildlife lover. The animals here are so easy to spot due to the huge populations of many species and the fact that they’re fairly accustomed to jeeps. For me though, the fact that this reserve is private, keeping visitor numbers low is key. Safaris here feel exclusive and luxurious, a truly special adventure.

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Jody van Merode

Senior Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in the Sabi Sands

There are many incredible places to stay in the Sabi Sands. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Sabi Sands tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Destinations to combine with your Safari

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Cape Town

Vibrant and beautiful, Cape Town is an essential stop on any South Africa trip. Table Mountain dominates the skyline and offers exciting outdoor pursuits while the streets below are full of history, culture and buzzing bars and restaurants.

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Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg mountains are an epic and exciting place to visit. Huge tabletops, massive ranges, ancient san rock-art sites and crashing waterfalls can be explored on hikes, exhilarating zip lines and expedition horse rides.

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Durban

A subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and laid back atmosphere makes Durban a great city to spend time in. It also holds plenty of cultural and political importance as the capital of the KwaZulu Natal region.

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Eastern Cape Safaris

South Africa’s Eastern Cape continues to win visitors over with its pristine coastline, accessible and malaria-free wildlife reserves, picturesque villages and surreal hinterland landscapes.

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Johannesburg

South Africa‘s ‘Big Apple’, this sunny city is not only one of the world’s largest urban areas and South Africa’s commercial and economic hub, it’s also been branded the new capital of cool.

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KwaZulu Natal

Known as the ‘Kingdom of the Zulu’, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s most north-easterly coastal province, quite literally has it all.

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Limpopo Province

Known as ‘The Great North’ Limpopo is characterised by majestic scenery, ancient landscapes and millions of hectares of protected land. There are numerous outdoor activities including some of the best horse riding safaris in the country.

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Luxury Rail Travel

Luxury trains cut through dramatic landscapes, enjoyed from the comfort of stylish carriages. Any journey through South Africa will be a beautiful one and taking the journey by train delivers a wonderful sense of calm or romance.

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Madikwe

Madikwe, in the northwest corner, boarding Botswana and the Kalahari desert is a hidden gem for safari-goers. A great spot for families with little children as there’s no malaria-free area.

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Northern Kruger National Park

The Makuleke is the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park. It is something of an open secret among safari aficionados, a diverse and dramatic region that is perhaps the park’s most beautiful, yet kept wonderfully quiet thanks to its remoteness and community run concession status.

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Phinda

Phinda is a private reserve offering exclusivity, conservation-lead hospitality and exciting wildlife encounters. A varied collection of habitats attracts plenty of wildlife and with its proximity to the coast, beach and bush combine perfectly.

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Pretoria

Located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, this handsome city is one of South Africa‘s three capital cities. Pretoria is made up of grand buildings, large, leafy green suburbs and wide, tree-lined streets.

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The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a place of magnificent natural beauty. The coastline is made up of small bays, beaches and quaint towns. In the distance rolling, green hills and forestland runs down to meet the coast, laden with marine life.

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The Kalahari

The Kalahari showcases the massive diversity of the country's landscapes. Unique desert species roam the arid plains, waiting for the rains to bring dry land to life with a flurry of desert flowers.

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The Western Cape Mountains

The Cape Mountains span the northern and southern capes, taking in the Cederberg mountains and most of the Karoo plateau. A perfect place for jaw-dropping road trips on the famous route 62 and all just a convenient distance from Cape Town.

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The Whale Coast

On the Atlantic shoreline of the western cape there’s a beautiful collection of bays, towns and villages. Whale watching boat trips can be arranged to spot southern right whales and evenings are spent in fine restaurants and stylish hotels.

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The Winelands

Pretty towns and villages punctuate the green rolling hills of South Africa’s Wine Region. Home to fantastic wine, restaurants and plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the stunning landscapes.

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Meet your Africa team

When to visit

June through to September are the drier winter months, when the vegetation is much more sparse and game tends to congregate around the watering holes, making this generally the best time to spot game. The warmer months from October through to April have more rains, turning the landscape a beautiful green and bringing abundant birdlife.

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Safari

June - September

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Birdlife

October - April

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Very Dry

August - September

When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

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Plan your trip to
The Sabi Sands

Whatever you want from your adventure in the Sabi Sands, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Herd of zebra in the grasslands in the golden light, TanzaniaHot air balloon over Marrakech in the sunset light.

Plan with peace of mind

When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.

If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.

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